Work table and feeding mechanism therefor



Nov. 17, 1936. J. BATH ET AL WORK TABLE AND FEEDING MECHANISM THEREFOR Original Filed March 6, 1953 Edi-222L57 i m g H 3 I a $1 R I:i--. HH H .H .H M

Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT orrica WORK. TABLE AND FEEDING MECHANISM THEREFOR setts Original application March 6, 1933, Serial No. 659,704. Dividcd'and this application July 5,

1935, Serial No. 29,844

5 Claims.

This invention relates to machine tools such as grinding machines and relates more particularly. to the work table and-to "mechanism for effecting longitudinal feed or reciprocation thereof.

It is one object of our invention to provide means for conveniently connecting or disconnecting a work table from its automatic reciproeating or feeding mechanism.-

A further object is to provide convenient means for manually moving the table when it is disconnectedfrom the automatic mechanism and for disengaging the hand-feeding means when the automatic reciprocating or feeding mechanism is in use.

Our invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a portion of a Work table and hydraulic actuating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional front elevation of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the mechanism for moving the table manually, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation, taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3. I

Referring to the drawing, we have shown a portion of a work table T slidable in guideways on a carriage or supporting structure S. We have also shown hydraulic mechanism for reciprocating the table T longitudinally.

This hydraulic mechanism may comprise a. piston ||l slidable in a cylinder II and connected by a piston rod l2 to the table T. Hydraulic connections l3 and M are indicated for the cylinder The travel of the piston Ill and piston rod |2 may be determined by controlling the flow of liquid through the connections I3 and 4.

We have made special provision for disconnecting the piston rod |2 from the table T when it is desired to move the table manually. For this purpose the rod I2 is provided with an enlarged head I5 (Fig. 2) having a cone-shaped end portion H5.

The head I5 is also provided with an annular groove lfl having one beveled or conical end wall |8 and one abrupt end wall IS. A latch 20 is mounted on a plunger 2| and is slidable in a bearing plate 22 threaded into the outer end of a downwardly projecting bearing portion 23 of the table T.

A coil spring 24yieldingly forcesthe latch 20 1 toward the normal or locked position shown in Fig. l. A bell crank is pivoted at 3| on-a bracket 32 depending from the table T, and-the forked end 33 of the bell crank engages the outer end of the stud-2| between shoulders 34' shown in Fig. 1, the latch 20 is released for -yielding movement to its operative or locking position, but when the hand lever 36 is swung to the. position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the bell crank 30 withdraws the latch 20 and releases the head l5 of the piston rod 2.

It is not necessary that the piston rod and table be in assembled relation when the latch is released, as the cone-shaped end It of the head IE will depress the latch 20 and allow the head to be thereafter engaged by the latch 20 at any time subsequent to release of the latch. An adjustable stop screw 39 limits the inward travel of the head l5.

After the table is released, it is desirable to be able to' slide the table manually and for this purpose I provide a rack 4|] (Fig. 4) secured to the under side of the table T. A shaft 4| (Fig. 4) is mounted in a bearing 42 in an apron 43 secured to a front surface of the support S.

A hand wheel 44 is secured to the front end of the shaft 4| and a pinion 45 is fixed to the rear end of the shaft 4|. A gear 46 (Fig. 3) is mounted on a stud at the outer end of an arm 4'1, and the arm 41 is formed onor secured to one end of a sleeve 48 which extends through the bearing 42 concentric with the shaft 4| and in effect constitutes a loose bushing for the bearing 42.

An arm 49 is formed on or secured to the outer end of the sleeve or bushing 48 and is provided with a spring plunger 5!] adapted to be seated in either of two holes 5| formed in a lower thickened portion of the apron 43. A knob or handle 52 is provided for withdrawing the spring plunger 50.

When the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 3, the gear 46 engages the rack 40 and the table T can. be moved longitudinally by means of the hand wheel 44 after the table is released from the piston rod |2.

When the table is again connected to the rod l2 for automatic operation, the hand wheel 44 and associated parts may be disconnected from the table by moving the plunger 50 to the lefthand hole in the apron 43 (as viewed in Fig. 3), thus swinging the gear 46 downward out of mesh with the rack 40.

We have thus provided convenient mechanism for reciprocating the table T automatically, for connecting or disconnecting the automatic mechanism from the table T, for moving the table T manually when thus disconnected, and for disengaging the hand feed during automatic reciprocation of the table.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what we claim is:

1. In a grinding machine, a work table, hydraulic table-moving mechanism including a cylinder, a piston and a piston rod, a quickly detachable connection between said rod and table, and manual means to move said table, said connection always securing said rod in the same longitudinal relation to said table and comprising cooperating self-engaging and self-locking elements on said table and rod.

2. In a grinding machine, a work table, a selfengaging actuating rod therefor, said rod having a tapered head and said table having a recessed depending portion to receive said head, a spring-pressed latch mounted on said table and automatically engageable with said head when said table and rod are brought into assembled relation, and manual means to withdraw said latch to release said rod.

3. In a grinding machine, a work table, an actuating rod therefor having a tapered head, said table having a recessed depending portion to receive said head, a spring-pressed latch engageable with said head when said table and rod are brought into assembled relation, and manual means to withdraw said latch to release said rod and to positively hold said latch in withdrawn position.

4. In a grinding machine, a work table, an actuating rod therefor having a tapered head, said table having a recessed depending portion to receive said head, a spring-pressed latch engageable with said head when said table and rod are brought into assembled relation, and a cam lever efiective to withdraw said latch to release said rod and to positively hold said latch in withdrawn position.

5. In a grinding machine, a work table, an actuating rod therefor having a tapered head, said table having a recessed depending portion to receive said head, a spring-pressed latch engageable with said head when said table and rod are brought into assembled relation, a plunger having a shoulder and supporting said latch, a bell crank having a forked end engaging said shoulder, and a cam lever engaging said bell crank and effective to withdraw said latch to release said rod and to positively hold said latch in withdrawn position.

JOHN BATH. STANLEY W. BATH. 

